Planes, trains and space ships lit up the Bloomsbury skies last night, as Senate House was transformed into a giant cinema screen. The incredible spectacle, the world’s first 270 degree outdoor projection mapping event, celebrated the launch of Virgin Money. This new high-street bank aims to shake up the banking industry with better service and simple-to-understand products.

Sir Richard Branson was on hand to start the show. The Virgin supremo launched a bottle of champagne towards Senate House, which, by clever trickery, turned into a projection and smashed against the building in an explosion of photons.

A three-minute film celebrating Virgin's 40-year history then played out across the three faces of Senate House's inner courtyard. The effect was stunning, with a wraparound show featuring Virgin trains, planes and a cameo from the forthcoming SpaceShipTwo — Virgin Galactic's commercial space-plane, soon to go into operation. Here's how it played out:

It was a spectacular beginning for Virgin Money, whose stapline '40 years of better. Now in a bank' hovered over the building for some time afterwards. Speaking to the BBC about the new bank, Branson said:

“People are suspicious of banks and they have good reason to be after the last few years. The Virgin brand is well trusted and has always offered good products in a range of different businesses...We think we can come in and shake up the industry.”

Virgin Money recently acquired Northern Rock and will convert 75 of its local branches over the coming year. Find out more about Virgin Money here.

I was really excited to go to this 'secret blogger event'. Was expecting loads on info on Virgin Money, and got nothing. The projections were impressive but I got nothing else from the evening. What was I supposed to blog about?! Really bad marketing, not even a branded pen or something to encourage us to visit a website, or even a pamphlet!